Driving support apparatus, methods, and programs

Abstract

Driving support apparatus, methods, and programs are provided for a hybrid vehicle whose driving power sources are an internal combustion engine and an electric motor operating with electric power supplied from an electric charger. The hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid control device for controlling the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The apparatus, methods, and programs store travel history data of the hybrid vehicle, calculate a position of the hybrid vehicle, and determine whether a destination is set. If a destination is not set, the apparatus, methods, and programs predict a destination based on the travel history data, and calculate a degree of reliability of the predicted destination based on the travel history data. The apparatus, methods, and programs control the hybrid control device based on the calculated degree of reliability.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-082690, filed on Mar. 27, 2007, including the specification, drawings and abstract thereof, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Related Technical Fields[0003]Related technical fields include driving support apparatus, methods, and programs for hybrid vehicles.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Hybrid vehicle employing an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as driving power sources are well known in the art. Such hybrid vehicles store electric power supplied by an external infrastructure in a battery. When the amount of charge remaining in the battery is reduced, the battery is charged by means of a charging station for an electric vehicle or an exclusive battery charger plugged into a house outlet.[0006]According to this type of hybrid vehicle, when the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a low threshold value while the vehicle is traveling, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]According to the apparatus described above, when an entire travel schedule for the vehicle is input in advance, the user may take advantage of the efficient assignment of the amount of charge remaining in the battery on the basis of the input schedule. However, when no destination is set, the apparatus cannot assign the amount of charge remaining in the battery. Further, in the case that the driver of the vehicle often travels along the same route, it is bothersome for the driver to input the travel schedule every time.

[0008]According to the apparatus described above, when an entire travel schedule for the vehicle is input in advance, the user may take advantage of the efficient assignment of the amount of charge remaining in the battery on the basis of the input schedule. However, when no destination is set, the apparatus cannot assign the amount of charge remaining in the battery. Further, in the case that the driver of the vehicle often travels along the same route, it is bothersome for the driver to input the travel schedule every time.

Problems solved by technology

According to this type of hybrid vehicle, when the amount of charge remaining in the battery goes below a low threshold value while the vehicle is traveling, the hybrid vehicle stops using the electric motor as a power source and travels only using the internal combustion engine, so that the fuel efficiency might become low.

However, when no destination is set, the apparatus cannot assign the amount of charge remaining in the battery.

Further, in the case that the driver of the vehicle often travels along the same route, it is bothersome for the driver to input the travel schedule every time.

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